Rooty Isles Design Notes
The grappling hook gave players increased speed and new navigational options that had to be considered in the level's design. Our main level was designed and balanced around what players could do with the grappling hook.
Rooty Isles' level layout was designed symmetrical to create the best balance for a competitive multiplayer first-person shooter game. Although a player could change the formation of the medium isles to make the level asymmetrical, the same formations could be activated on the other side of the map.
The three different formations were the Speed formation, Defensive formation and Hybrid formation. The Speed formation created the quickest path between a base isle and the large central isle. The Defensive formation gave players standing on the base isle a height advantage. The Hybrid formation was a balanced mix of the other two formations being faster than the Defensive formation but safer than the Speed formation.
Each of the isles were created with simple paths and allowed for multiple ways to maneuver around the environment. Players could use the grappling hook to reach another isle, swing between isles or swing underneath isles. Placing the moving isles at various distances and heights gave Rooty Isles its unique dynamic level flow.